Tool



May 22, 1934. Q LAWSON 1,959,587

TOOL

Filed April `7. 1932 5 6 3/33V' E739 .32 s/s 7 23551- 334 35 la .6, (2in a 8.3 33 3/ 5./ l cscarL.La/won,

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Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL Oscar L. Lawson, Lynn, Mass.

Application April 7, 1932, Serial No. 603,793 12 Claims. (Cl. 81-199) This invention relates to tools of the type having pivoted jaw levers and more particularly to tools of the type shown in the patent to Sweet 873,333, Dec. 10, 1907, wherein the jaw levers and the operating levers or handles therefor are so connected that the planes in which they respectively swing may be disposed at dif- -ferent angles. The object of the invention is to provide a reliable and efcient construction for such a tool having certain advantages which will appear as the description proceeds and one more particularly applicable to heavy tools such, for example, as bolt cutters. For purposes of deiiniteness I have herein shown a bolt cutter as an example of my invention.

My invention Will be well understood by reference to the following description of an illus- -trative embodiment thereof shown by way of examplel in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. 1 isa plan of the bolt cutter, the ends of the actuating handles being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the jaw levers or blades showing them positioned at right angles to the handles and showing in section the connection between the blades and handles;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the jaw levers;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 5--5, 6-6 and 7 7 of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a detail of a supporting member to be referred to.

Referring to the drawing, I have there shown a cutter head of conventional form embodying Vthe two jaw levers 11 cooperatively pivoted together'o'n the transverse straps 13 and adapted to be actuated by handle levers `15 pivoted together at 17 and which may likewise be of conventional form. To permit the jaw levers to be positioned and `operated both in the same plane as the handle levers or in planes at an angle thereto, the two sets of levers are connected together by universal joints, herein .shown of the ball and socket type embodying the ball members 19 and socket members 21, the ball members being in the present instance associated with the jaw levers and the socket members with the handle levers.

To permit interchangeable use of the jaws and handles as utilized in other' types of tools and for other purposes unnecessary to mention, the elements of the ball and socket joints are preferably arranged on separate members secured to the levers respectively and herein I have shown a Vchanneled or U-shaped member 23 tting about the outer side of the jaw lever 11 and being secured thereto by boltv 25 which may pass through the opening in the tail of the lever provided to receive the pivot pin in tools in which the cutting levers are not angularly adjustable as herein. The web of the member 23 extends as shown some distance from the bolt to provide a rule joint so that when the tails of the cutting levers are swung outwardly in the Working stroke, the levers and sections move as a unit independently of the clamping pressure of bolt 25. The U-shaped member 23 has a projection or extension 27 to support an element of a ball and socket joint, herein the ball 19, and in the present embodiment of the invention the ball is formed with a substantially cylindrical stem which enters a suitable hole in the extension 27. In the Working stroke of the tool the pressure of the handle levers holds the stem in the seat thus provided. To retain it therein, particularly on the return or idle stroke, I provide a suitable Vreleasable catch or latch, herein shown (see Figs. 1, 2 and 8) as a locking plate 31 pivoted to member 23 at 32 and adapted to turn into a suitable slot provided in the projecting end of the stem 29. This plate 31 may be formed with a slight projection 33 on its inner face adapted to enter depressions formed in the extension 27 on which -it is pivoted to retain it alternatively in the full or dotted line positions of Fig. 8 in which respectively it engages the stem 29 or is released from the same.

The cooperating socket member 21, which takes the form of a spherical segment extending past the diameter of the ball permanently to retain the same, is herein shown as formed on the U- 'shaped member 34 embracing the outer side of handle lever 15 and secured thereto by the transverse vpin 35. This member 34 moves as a unit with handle lever 15 but is angularly adjustable thereon, for instance to compensate for wear of the cutting edges of the jaws, and for these purposes may be positioned by means of the eye bolt 37 and cooperating set screw 39.

It will'be noted that the extension 27 is offset outwardly and extends rearwardly so that these extensions receive between them the handle levers including the levers proper 15 and the sections 34. The handle levers 15 may be thus of conventional form and are related to the jaw levers in substantially the same manner as the handle levers are related' to the jaw levers CIL strain is relatively slight.

in tools not having swivelling heads. Thus not only in manufacture may jaw levers and handle levers of conventional form be utilized, but by a simple substitution of a set of cooperating sections for the adjusting sections of an ordinary tool corresponding to the sections 34 the owner of one of these tools can quickly and inexpensively convert it into a tool of the present type.

By the provision of the universal joint described, the jaw levers may be positioned in the same plane as the handle levers or in planes angular thereto, for instance in the right angle position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in whatever position actuated in the usual manner by operation oi the handle levers. TheV parts of the tool are easily assembled and jaw levers and handle levers of conventional form may be utilized in connection with small and inexpensive parts for providing the universal connection between them. The jaws are interchangeable, this being very readily effected by releasing the latches 3l and withdrawing the stems 29 of the balls from the extensions 27. It will be noted that in the operation of the tool on its working stroke when the handle levers are pressed together and great resistance is encountered, the balls are iirmly supported, being pressed to their seats by the operating pressure. On the other hand, the latches 31 are of suicient strength to retain the balls in position on the idle or opening stroke in which the If it is desired to change the head, the jaws may be closed and clamped in the closed position. Then with the latches 3l released, the handles may be utilized to withdraw the stems 29 of the balls from the Vopenings in which they are received, the draft of the handles being substantially longitudinal of these stems. Likewise in reassembling the tool with the same or a similar cutter head, the stems of the balls may be presented to the openings which are to receive them and a closing movement of the handles will thrust them into their sockets where they may be lsecured by means of the latches.

Means are preferably provided for supporting the cutter levers in the desired adjusted angular position relative to the handle levers, and I have herein shown a bracket 41 secured to the pivot bolt 17 of the handles and thus relatively stationary, to which is pivoted by the transversely extending bolt 43 a longitudinally extending arm 45. A resilient washer 47 is herein compressed by the pivot bolt 43 so that the arm 45 may move against a frictional resistance. The arm may have a sliding connection with the jaw levers and I have herein shown it as provided with a lateral extension 49 provided with an upturned end 51 (see Fig. 9), the extension lying beneath and the upturned end 51 embracing the edge of a plate 53 extending lengthwise of one of the jaw levers, herein being shown as attached to the bolt 25. The arm 45- will thus, when the head of the tool is turned, as to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, extend as a diagonal strut as shown in that figure, supporting it from the relatively xed center 17. It will be understood that the tension of the washer 47 may be so vadjusted as to permit the head to be swung as desired while providing a sulicient resistance to retain the-head in its adjusted position against casual displacement.

I am aware that the invention may be ernbodied in other specific forms without departing from Vrthe spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and means for connecting them to permit the jaw levers Yto be operated in planes angular to that of the operating levers comprising ball and socket elements, there being a seat against which one of said elements is pressed on the working stroke of the tool and readily releasable latch means to hold said .element to the seat on the idle stroke.

2. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and means for connecting them to permit the jaw levers to be operated in planes angular to that of the operating levers comprising ball and socket elements, the levers of one set having seats, one of said elements having an extension by which it is connected to its lever of that set, which extension enters said seat freely under force substantially in the direction of movement of said elements under control of the operating levers, and releasable means to retain said extension in the seat.

3. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and universal joints providing for positioning the two lever units in different planes and a strut having a pivotal connection with one unit and a sliding connection with the other for supporting the law levers in adjusted angular position.

4. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and universal joints providing for positioning the two lever units in different planes, an arm pivotally mounted at the pivotal base of said operating levers on a transverse axis and having a sl'idable connection with the jaw levers, and means for retaining said arm in adjusted position about its axis.

5. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and universal joints providing for positioning the two lever units in different planes, an arm pivotally mounted at the pivotal base of said operating ylevers on a transverse axis, a longitudinally disposed plate carried by the jaw levers with which said arm has a sliding connection, and means for retaining said arm in adjusted position about its axis.

6. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers of conventional form, sections iitted to the tails of said levers and secured thereto by a transverse pin in the existing pivot hole to move rigidly therewith, cooperating pivoted handle levers and interengaging elements of a ball and Socket joint carried by said sections and handle levers respectively.

7. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers of conventional form, sections fitted to the tails of said levers and secured thereto by a transverse pin in the existing pivot hole to move rigidly therewith and each having an outwardly offset and rearwardly `ments of the joint.

8. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers of conventional form, sections tted to the tails of said levers and secured thereto by a transverse pin in the existing pivot hole to move rigidly therewith, cooperating pivoted handle levers comprising main levers and sections secured to the sides thereof for movement rigidly therewith and interengaging elements of ball and socket joints carried by the sections.

9. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers of conventional form, sections tted to the tails of said levers and secured thereto by a transverse pin in the existing pivot hole to move rigidly therewith, cooperating pivoted handle levers comprising main levers and sections secured to the sides thereof for movement rigidly therewith and interengaging elements of ball and socket joints carried by the sections, the sections of one set being angularly adjustable on the levers which carry them.

l0. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers and pivotally associated handle levers and means for joining them to permit actuation of the former by the latter in different angular relations comprising segmentally spherical sockets carried by one set of levers, balls fitting the same and retained thereby and having projecting stems, said stems fitting openings in the levers of the other set,

the Working stroke of the tool operating to press together the elements of the ball and socket joints thus provided substantially in a line with said stems.

11. A tool of the class described comprising pivotally associated jaw levers and pivotally associated handle levers and means for joining them to permit actuation of the former by the latter in different angular relations comprising segmentally spherical sockets carried by one set of levers, balls fitting the same and retained thereby and having projecting stems, said stems iitting openings in the levers of the other set and releasably retained therein for disjunction of the levers of the several sets independently of separation of the ball and socket, the working stroke of the tool operating to press together the elements of the ball and socket joints thus provided substantially in a line with said stems.

12. A tool comprising pivotally related jaw levers, pivotally related operating levers and universal joints providing for positioning the two lever units in different planes, a member secured at the pivot of the operating levers and projecting in the plane thereof, an arm pivoted thereto on a transverse axis and having a slid ing connection with the jaw levers and means for retaining said arm in adjusted position about its axis.

OSCAR L. LAWSON. 

